I'd normally be on the fence about the utility of an Android-based television set like Scandinavia (above), but if it's made by a company called People of Lava it has to be pretty awesome, right? Or at least ridiculous?

Fortunately, Scandinavia looks like a little bit of both. Their first Android 1.5-run effort will be a 42-inch full-HD backlit LED set that'll go into beta testing this summer and on sale in September, followed by 47-inch and 55-inch sets soon after. It'll ship with apps like Facebook, YouTube, Google Maps, and Twitter, along with a web browser and email client, while further apps will be available from the People of Lava App Store.

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So a couple of potential hold-ups here. Just how populated do we expect the People of Lava App Store to be? And even if they do get the quantity up, how many of those apps would I actually use? YouTube, sure. Weather, absolutely. But I can't really picture myself Tweeting from my TV. As Wired points out, once a keyboard gets involved I'm headed to my phone or laptop.

That being said, the lure of telling people I've got People of Lava in my living room might be too great to resist.

Swedish manufacturer launches world's first Android TV
Sweden's People of Lava beat everyone to the chase to launch the world's first fully interactive internet TV. Following the launch at IFA Berlin in September, the new People of Lava "Scandinavia" will hit the stores, complete with Full-HD LED display and a fully integrated Android platform. But starting already early summer, selected early users will be able purchase and evaluate the Scandinavia TV through a beta-test program. And discussions are already ongoing with potential future partners and developers for content and media.
The Scandinavia TV set is the embodiment of People of Lava's vision to build a machine that goes beyond push-TV to become "a window to the world".
– Think of it as a device that provides all the functionality that you would expect from an Android smart phone, combined with the quality and definition you demand of a high-end Full-HD LED TV set, says Christian Svantesson, co-founder and CEO of People of Lava.
The Scandinavia Android TV - which will first be released in a 42" version, followed by 47" and 55" - is built without compromises. It features top-of-the-line components and is carefully put together by hand to ensure the kind of quality that customers expect from a People of Lava Full- HD LED TV set. Its Android platform and internet capabilities provide a wide range of functionalities, including:
- Out of the box Android TV applications such as: - YouTube, Google Maps ,Weather, Time, Calendar, Internet Browser
- Downloadable Apps, both free and from coming App-store: - Facebook, Twitter, Email and more...
- Internet connection
- USB connection
The Scandinavia TV is unique in many ways. Not the least in the design and materials. People of Lava have worked with the German office of the well-respected design-firm Designit to capture the sprit of the company in the design. The materials have never been used in televisions before - a nearly natural material, with a very deep gloss, and hard as stone, otherwise mainly found in exclusive kitchen and yachts.
According to current plans, this is even the first TV to be built in Sweden for several decades - thus bringing a proud Swedish tradition back to life. For this reason, People of Lava has set up their own assembly-line at their offices in Stenungsund, outside of Gothenburg.
The price of the Scandinavia 42" will be between €2,000 and €2,500 at the global sales-start in September.
For full technical specifications and imagery please visit:
http://www.peopleoflava.com